A schoolboy who lost his brave cancer battle has left a lasting legacy which has helped hundreds of other children and their families fight the disease.

An estimated £40,000 has been raised so far for Welsh children’s cancer charity Latch in Ben Milner’s name.

And friends in the community are continuing to swell the charity’s coffers – helping it to provide treats for children during treatment and financial and emotional support for their families – as the fifth anniversary of Ben’s death approaches.

Family friend Leighton Reed, 46, strapped on his walking boots and set out on a 100km walk on Saturday morning to raise money for Latch in the name of Ben, from Thornhill, Cardiff, who was eight when he died in August 2010.

Together with colleagues from accountancy firm Broomfield and Alexander, he completed the Race to the Stones – a walk along an ancient ridgeway between Oxfordshire and Stonehenge in Wiltshire – in 48 hours and raised more than £800 for charity in the process.

'Ben touched the heart of everyone who knew him'

Last year, Leighton, from Thornhill, and colleagues completed the UK Three Peaks Challenge and raised £2,500 for Latch.

He said: “I always like to challenge myself and it is going to be tough but also I am raising money for children and, as my wife Ceri put it, if I just raise £100 that’s £100 for equipment that can help a family.”